Listen: Will.i.am ft Cody Wise – “It’s My Birthday”

The year is 1994, and Tamil actor Prabhu Deva is on top of a moving bus, proving exactly why he can dance and sing like there’s no tomorrow, on “Urvasi Urvasi,” composed by AR Rahman, in film Kadhalan. To match his steps, the actor hard-sells the take-it-easy policy towards life, whether you failed your exams or got dumped by your girlfriend.

Fast forward 20 years on and Rahman has recreated parts of the song for American producer Will.i.am [from pop group the Black Eyed Peas] and singer Cody Wise for a song called “It’s My Birthday.” We’re not too sure how much Rahman pitched in, but Wise and Will.i.am borrow a similar vocal melody and beats from “Urvasi Urvasi,” which also includes samples from the songs “Pull Up To Mi Bumper,” by Jamaican dancehall artist Konshens and “Fi Di Jockey” by Jamaican producer Aidonia.

But being Will.i.am, best known for singing about junk in the trunk and getting the party started, he throws in the cheesiest lines about carpe diem and blowing up money on “It’s My Birthday.” We’d like to immediately forget this song ever existed.